Cura Dialogue: When the citizen becomes captain of their own life

Flexible frameworks. Local adaptation

The working group creates the overall frameworks, and then it's up to the local teams how they implement them in their day-to-day work. That way, the workflow becomes flexible and can be adapted in each individual team.

"In the working group, for example, we agree that we check ‘Your Dialogue’ between 7-8 and 14-15. But the person responsible depends on the local structure," explains Sabrina.

The cross-disciplinary collaboration also creates better oversight. If a citizen breaks their femur, for example, nursing, the training unit and the assistive device centre can follow the individual professional groups' communication with the citizen. The citizen gets answers, receives a link to training, and staff support correct use of assistive devices – all via ‘Your Dialogue’.

"He just needed to clear his head"

An example from Sønderborg Municipality illustrates how a citizen perspective can change the understanding of what's happening in the system.

A citizen wrote multiple messages to different members of staff. So many that it could seem problematic.

"When we looked at it cross-disciplinarily in the working group, we could see that it actually wasn't empty communication," Sabrina explains. "He'd simply reminded several people that he needed to have his medicine on Friday, because he had plans Saturday. It was completely legitimate – he'd just written to many different people."

For the citizen, it was about getting peace of mind. Now he had done his bit. Now he could get on with what was important.

The example led to a realisation in the working group: The local authority needs to improve communication about whom citizens should contact.

Self-determination in practice

Another citizen with mild autism wanted to "be captain of his own life", as Sabrina puts it.

He needed to have his blood sugar measured every morning, and a nurse came to help him with it.

Relatives as a resource

The pilot project also focuses on collaboration with relatives and citizen-experienced quality. Sønderborg Municipality specifically wants to involve relatives, as they're often a valuable resource with extensive knowledge about their nearest and dearest. That knowledge helps staff create security and improves how they get to know the citizen.

‘Your Dialogue' removes travel as a barrier to family involvement. Relatives can join a video call from anywhere – the office, the car, or the other end of the country.

Experience shows the system must foster connection and share relevant details. For example, a relative might let staff know they're picking up their mother for a weekend birthday, so care schedules can be adjusted accordingly. But digital contact shouldn't replace personal visits.

The way forward

The pilot project is currently running. The goal is to roll out ‘Your Dialogue’ throughout Sønderborg Municipality in the second quarter of 2026.

"We see enormous potential," says Sabrina. "It's about giving citizens more control over their own care. As long as we keep their needs front and centre – not our own – it can make a real difference. "